Is there a interview or anything about the way that Brendog was treated? I was always wondering why he left but never looked into it.

There was something in Dirt a while back.

Basically he bust his knee and MonsterSpesh told him he either kept riding or didn't get paid at all.

Que a year of bad results and an ever worsening injury. That's not a good way to treat an investment, given the injuries Hill's had riding the Demo it will be interesting to know if he was delivered the same ultimatum.

Hunter was the main influence why I chose the demo as my next frame. All the wordcup fanboize went to a frenzy when Hill joined Spec. Sadly though he was not 100% during that time (remember the beer belly). And now all those same people act like they don't want their demos anymore is just plain fun, because Hill won't be on one next season. Hope, Hill tears up the track next season.

Hill had a great season, considering he was coming off an injury. top 5 overall on flats. he is definitely still relevant as a podium contender. im thinking spesh lowered his salary in order to raise brosnans. If not, CRC must have dropped a fatter check on the table and Hill being a father now did the smart thing and went where the money is. we can speculate all we want, fact of the matter is he went to CRC and thats that.

Then in 2011 he had an argument with a moto and sat out almost the whole season. That seemed to get downplayed but to miss most of a season is more than a little injury. After that eighteen months (and becoming a father) top five in the world cup isn't bad, although everyone will expect better next year.

If thats the case, Spec basically bit the had that fed them.
The demo was very average (crappy) when sam moved to spec, he did extremely well and breathed new life into the demo. They should of done everything in their power to keep him on the team.

At the end of the day he's a fast guy who has had a couple seasons of injury and life happening. While I can't say in my heart that he's ever going to be the number one guy anymore with the likes of Gwin and others out there, he's still a top 5 contender at any race that isn't the South Africa track.

Another thing to consider is that all of the current top contenders are only there because they had to step up their game massively to beat Hill. They had to train while he never really did. Maybe if he gets serious and puts in a hard offseason of training he can get back to the top.

seriously looks like a tank - don't know anything about nukeproof bikes but fixed rear triangle and single pivot above the crankarms seems very old school vs modern suspension designs you have now. Big departure from his early days with IH and DW link design bikes... which I'm partial too having owned a few over the years and never liking the single pivot ones I've owned (and sold).

At the top of the game I don't know how much it is the rider anyway and not the bike. Change is good, never liked how Specialized is treating local small shops anyway and taking over other brands...

Speaking with a friend about Sam Hill leaving and he brought up a point that I had not thought of.
Most people talk of Sam either leaving Specialized or Specialized dumping Sam.
But the team is not Specialized, it is Monster and then Specialized. It does not look like Sam will continue his relationship with Monster, so my thought would be that his contract was not renewed by Monster, which has the relationship with Specialized.
How many true factory teams are there? I don't think that there are many, but I could be very mistaken.

How many true factory teams are there? I don't think that there are many, but I could be very mistaken.

Well, Trek, Santa Cruz, GT, Devinci, Giant, Lapierre, Ghost, Yeti, Scott, Kona, Saracen and Nukeproof are all what you'd call a works team in motorsport. The manufacturer owns (or the manufacturer's owner owns) the team and provides the lion's share of the cash.

Most of the big teams are factory operations.

Never sure about Monster Spesh though, I remember them as Monster Iron Horse.